Trump planning to hold funeral service for his brother Robert at White House: 'He'd be greatly honored'
President Donald Trump is reportedly considering holding a memorial service for his late younger brother Robert at the White House this week. The president, on Monday, August 17, said that he was looking to hold a service in Washington D.C. just before this weekend. "We're looking at Friday, and we may do just a small service right here in the White House for my brother," Trump said while addressing reporters before leaving for a string of events in swing states.
The youngest of the president's four siblings, Robert Trump, died at the age of 71 on Saturday, August 15. Although an official cause of death was not revealed, according to a report by the New York Times, Robert had experienced brain bleeds after a recent fall. Trump reportedly visited his brother at a hospital in New York City last week. He had told reporters at the time that "he's having a tough time." Not long before Robert's demise, the president had phoned in to the hospital from his New Jersey golf club, according to The Times.
Trump, in an appearance on 'Fox & Friends' earlier on Monday, opened up about the loss of his brother, saying Robert's death was "very hard." The Republican leader said: "It was not a great weekend," adding that his brother's demise was not a surprise "but still, when it happens, it's a very tough thing. He was a great guy. He was a tremendous guy. He was my friend. I guess they say best friend, and that's true, and, you know, losing him, not easy."
Trump said that his brothers was his lifelong supporter. "If I had the number one show, or if I had a big success, and no matter what I did — whether it was real estate deals or anything else — he was right there and in many cases helped with whatever I did. And then when I became president he was one of the most loyal people, there was no jealousy,” he said. Robert, who generally stayed out of the spotlight, had recently made headlines after he filed a lawsuit, attempting to block a tell-all book on the family written by Trump's niece Mary Trump.
The president, while talking to reporters on Monday, said that a memorial service at the White House "would be a great honor" to Robert. Trump said: "I think he'd be greatly honored. He loves our country. He loved our country so much. He was so proud of what we were doing and what we are doing for our country."
It is rare to hold funeral services at the White House. Trump, over the recent months, has received criticism for using the White House grounds for political purposes. The president, on Monday, also received criticism from Democrats and some fellow Republicans after he confirmed that he would accept the Republican nomination for a second term during a live speech at the White House next week. “We are doing a real speech on Thursday, next Thursday, so you will be listening live from the White House. We have plenty to say,” Trump said.